With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, you’re in the midst of the coldest period of the year. You rely on your home heating to keep you comfortable and safe. It’s an excellent time to consider your home’s HVAC system and how you can show it some love.
Improve Your HVAC Filtration
The filter for your HVAC supply is essential to keeping your equipment clean and helps improve air quality. Purchase premium HVAC filters rather than cheaper products you may have to replace more often. Consider your filter choice’s minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). This rating indicates filter effectiveness, and the higher the rating, the better the filtration. Modern HVAC systems typically support MERV 8, and many support up to MERV 13. Don’t choose a higher rating than your system allows. It can impact airflow, efficiency, and operating costs.
Check your filter at least once a month, and replace it as needed. You’ll know it’s time when there’s significant dust accumulation on the outer surface. You should also replace it if you hear a whistling sound. That means the air can’t get through the filter and is going around it.
Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat
Homeowners who haven’t yet upgraded to a smart thermostat should consider it. With features like scheduling, you can easily adjust your temperature by 7 degrees or more while sleeping or at work. The Department of Energy (DOE) conservatively estimates scheduling can save you up to 10% on heating and cooling costs annually. Smart thermostats allow for remote access and control. They often provide many additional ways to save, including energy monitoring and automatic time-of-use adjustments.
Schedule an HVAC Tune-Up
Ideally, you should schedule an annual heating tune-up early in the fall before the winter weather arrives. Still, it’s better to schedule late than not all. Your technician will show your HVAC equipment some love by cleaning it. A multipoint inspection will reveal normal wear and tear in addition to any early damage. Correcting wear includes lubricating moving parts, tightening connections, replacing bad ball bearings, balancing fans, and so forth. If necessary, your technician can recommend proactive repairs that save you money and headaches down the line.
Take Advantage of a Maintenance Agreement
It’s an excellent time to consider signing up for a maintenance agreement as well. Maintenance plans take the hassle out of seasonal maintenance. Your HVAC warranty likely requires routine service, and it can help avoid repairs and lower your operating costs. You won’t miss an appointment again because your provider will contact you in advance to schedule. Maintenance plans include both heating and cooling services. They often provide a discount on those tune-ups in addition to other perks, such as:
- Priority scheduling
- No after-hour or weekend fees
- Discounts on parts and equipment
Book a Duct Inspection
Some maintenance plans even include a free duct inspection. Otherwise, you should schedule an inspection in addition to a tune-up at least once every other year. During the inspection, your technician will use a high-definition camera attached to a monitor via a long but flexible cable. That will allow your technician to evaluate every aspect of your ducts and identify problems.
Duct Cleaning
Dust accumulates in your ducts over time. Even over the short term, it can make your home smell unpleasant and pollute your indoor air. Over the long term, it can lead to blockages that negatively affect comfort and energy efficiency. The average household will need professional duct cleaning every three to five years. Your technician will use a high-powered vacuum to remove all the dust and other debris from your ducts.
Duct Sealing
The DOE estimates that air leakage can waste between 20% and 40% of the energy used for heating and cooling. This is why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded the research that led to methods like Aeroseal. By sealing your ducts with a non-toxic aerosol, you can save between 8% and 15% on your heating and cooling costs.
Duct Repair
Duct sealing will correct worn seals and small punctures. If you have large punctures, rusted metal, or compromised mounting equipment, you may need additional repairs. Those can include reattachment, replacement of parts, and insulation installation.
Duct Replacement
Ducts in homes can last up to 25 years with proper maintenance. If your ducts are older or in poor condition, it may be better to replace them. Replacement is also an opportunity to redesign your duct network using modern techniques and equipment.
Add a Whole-Home Humidifier
The EPA recommends a relative humidity (RH) between 30% and 60% for your home. If you struggle to maintain 30% in winter due to the local climate or running a furnace, a humidifier will help. It will add moisture to the air to increase the RH. Likewise, if you can’t maintain 60% or less during the summer, consider adding a dehumidifier before the warm weather arrives.
Install an In-Duct Air Purifier
An HVAC filter is effective but limited by air pressure considerations on the supply side. You can install a whole-house air purifier in your ducts, which is the return side. Doing so will help protect your HVAC equipment and improve air quality. In-duct air purifiers can trap most particulate matter that passes through. Many air purifiers also have activated carbon for odor control and to remove gases and airborne chemicals.
Add a Germicidal Light
Ultraviolet (UV) lamps give off a light that neutralizes over 99% of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. There are two main types of UV lights. In-duct UV lamps are effective at protecting your family from pathogens. Coil-based lights help to avoid microbial growth on the evaporator coils integral to air conditioners and heat pumps.
Other Ways to Show Your HVAC System Some Love
Air leakage isn’t exclusive to your ducts. Your entire home, especially if it’s older, can leak. The solution is professional air sealing, which the EPA estimates can lower energy costs by 15%. Having an optimally energy-efficient home requires good insulation, too. If you have inadequate and/or worn insulation, consider an upgrade. It can reduce heating and cooling costs by 40% to 50% and total energy costs by 10%. If you have inadequate ventilation in your home, consider adding a whole-house fan. There are even fans you can run during the winter. Those include heat and energy recovery ventilators.
Professional HVAC Services in the Greater San Antonio Area
Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating is an NCI-certified HVAC company serving homeowners throughout San Antonio, TX and the surrounding areas. Our NATE-certified HVAC technicians are available for same-day service and around-the-clock emergency services. We perform seasonal tune-ups and offer a plan that can save you money on maintenance and repairs. Our technicians specialize in air conditioners, ductless mini-splits, heat pumps, furnaces, and hybrid heating systems.
Additionally, we provide indoor air quality reports and install and service air purifiers, germicidal lights, dehumidifiers, and humidifiers. Count on us for smart thermostat installation, programming, calibration, and repairs. Our technicians inspect, clean, seal, repair, and install ducts. We can air seal your home for better comfort, air quality, and efficiency. Our team also installs insulation, including spray foam, blown-in, and radiant barriers. Call Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating today or contact us online to schedule a service appointment or set up an in-home consultation.
